An all metal clipper lighter is one of the best... holds a good amount of fluid, decently wind proof and you could also remove the spark wheel and Flint assembly to use it as a fire starter in an emergency if you run out of fluid
Love my Exotac. I loved my zippo, until it didnt light after sitting for too long. Not being a smoker, camping is my only use. The Exotac can sit for months (and mine has) and still light up. I also have a tiny peanut lighter that is sealed that has set in my tiny emergency firekit for over 2 years and still lights up. Zippo wasn't ever marketed as a survival lighter.
I switch to Tesla plasma Arc lighters and I will never go back to the old ways. They are waterproof infinite power for life with a solar panel you never have to worry about fuel again
Interesting demo. I always carry a Bic with me, but I have had trouble with them in cold weather. Full size is better. Zippo is more cost effective for me in cold weather. Thanks and take care.
BIC or Cricket are the way to go. They simply DO NOT fail - ex-smoker. Trust me, if you can light a cig in any condition, you can get a fire started. I have used them at 9000 ft, 0° F, Rain, Blizzard, Hurricane. Use flame extender if you need flame longer. Rope soaked w/wax, rolled duct tape, ranger band, etc. I have NEVER needed anything else!! Note: I carry ferro rod, matches, Fresnel lens, and spare BICs, just in case, just like I carry more than one cutting tool, pair of socks, batteries, etc. There is no need to carry the extra weight of a zippo and deal with the leakage. To each his own. The Exotac is a great concept: extra weight and cost, fuel won’t last as long as a BIC. To each his own. A BIC w/tie wrap or zip tie (impossible to leak), in Ziploc baggies - cut off the zipper so it rolls up easier, several cotton balls w/Vaseline all wrapped up with a rubber band in left front pants pocket. No leaks, waterproof, start fire in any condition, weighs nothing, always with you. Back-ups in your food/mess kit.
I actually am a smoker, rolling into papers that dont burn on their own so I need to light each cig several times. I put some Crickets to the test. The cheap ones without flame adjustment. They failed after two months max. The flame got 5 inch tall, the wheels got dull, the spring weakened too. As long as you start a fire once a day it may last but not 100 times a day. Garbage. I had a big piezzo jet lighter before it and it lasted 10 months before I had to replace the piezzo igniter from cheaper piezzo lighters. I thought that Crickets where I can change the flint and refill the gas (unlike BIC ) were an upgrade to an immortal lighter but they were not. Jet lighters are the best. The fuel economy is great. Gas is mixed with air and has a higher temperature while burning less gas. The nozzle doesnt even get that hot. It never melts (unlike BIC type lighters) Couple of miliseconds long click and the cig or a candle is burning. I even used it to solder wires. I kept it burning for couple of minutes - I abused it a lot. If there was one with a heavy duty piezzo igniter it would be perfect. They are not meant to last
The exotac and the Zippo style lighter can also be multi fuel lighters, in a pinch you can use lamp oil, alchhol, white gas, or any other somewhat flammable liquid in them. The manufacturers will say no. But, they are just an old oil lamp in a pocket design. So they shud work with other fuels. Try that with ur Bic.....
A gallon of Crown white gas will last you an Eternity in a Titanlight. Just transfer it to a Zippo or Ronsonol can!😂. Trust me, this old boy ain't paying a $1 an OUNCE for some ZLF or Ronsonol
I like Zippo fluid but I've used camp gas many times. It's a little harder to get lit and it burns dirtier but it's way cheaper. I keep a gallon around in case things get bad plus I still use the old Coleman lanterns when catfishing. I guess I'm a little old-school with my Zippo lighters and Coleman lanterns.😊
takeaways from this video, Titan light is not worth the money. Its all good to have fluid in a light but, it blows out too easily. Zippos like wise runs out of fuel to easily. Bics to me is the perfect combination. Fuel doesnt leak and it will work if you know how to use it properly. ANY lighter should be stored close to your body. Gas lighters are the biggest fails here. But, with all of the faults, a standard bic is cheaper, easier to replace, plentiful and the fact that I have used one daily for the last 30+ years and it has never failed. I have been in freezing temps and a second or two to warm it up and it has worked fine. to me the titan light is a gimic they are bulky for a lighter, and $50 is way to much to pay for it. just my humble opinion.
In my humble opinion, the 2 biggest things a Bic has going for it are price and the fact the fuel doesn't eveporate. But, let's be fair. There are quite a few practical adavantages offered by liquid fuel lighters, especially if you can solve the eveporation issue - which Exotac seems to have done. Yes, they are much more expensive but, unless you lose it, it should literally last decades.
@@SurvivalOnPurposeep main advantage being that if you land in an abandoned site, old mine, small sandbar with a small empty building etc ...not ro start about a post apocalyptic scenario... The liquid fuel obe can take some oil, benzine, kerosene, even moonshine or any type of flammable liquid you may find and work .
Yeah the fluid certainly leaks out of the zippo. If it’s an edc item it really isn’t that big of a problem provided you can make a weekly ritual of filling it. Another important fact is tgat the zippo and Ronson fluid is VERY similar to coleman white gas. In fact, the performance is basically identical. The trick is how to get it from the gallon can and into the lighters. I keep a small msr bottle for this purpose. To fuel the lighter, I use a small children’s medicine syringe. It works great. About 7CCs of coleman or crown fuel seems to be the right amount for a dry zippo. For extended storage I vacuum sealed a full zippo with my food saver and it was still full months later. Of course, as soon as you tear open the bag the clock is ticking... but it’s a good way to keep the lighter in a kit. If there is a white gas stove also in the kit the two items can share the fuel supply. A clever person might even figure out how to use a partially disassembled whisperlite to fill their lighter... thanks for the video...
Get an empty Zippo or Ronsonol can and pry the red spout top off with a flathead screwdriver. Get a small funnel that fits the can. Use a measuring cup and pour the listed amount of white gas into the can!😂 You can transfer the fuel into a quart jar for easier filling of your lighter fluid cans. The transferred fuel will not evaporate in a Mason Jar. Keep the jar in a cool dry place just like the big cans😂
Zippo butane lighter inserts (other companies make them too) are better than any of these options. Reliable, directional blue flame torch. Refillable. Easy to light after being submerged. Wind-resistant. No more burnt fingers. Never had one fail.
I have always carried a Bic lighter everyday since I was in boy scouts, I even carried one in junior and senior high. I didn't and don't smoke but I always have one incase I needed a quick fire right away. And if I'm going someone where I could get wet I also throw a ferro rod in my pocket and I always have a knife on me.
@@BushCampingToolsI carried matches in a leak proof case. They worked, but the number of matches is limited. Bics are okay, but your fingers start getting really hot, if you keep them on long enough.
I've ordered a soft flame butane insert for my zippo so i can still use it as an edc but it's a lot more fuel friendly and won't have to top up constantly.
That was pretty funny! Especially when the zippo had a growing flame! I think for the price, the zippo is a much better choice. With the money you can save with the zippo purchase, you can buy a small bottle of fluid to fill it if it evaporates. Or wrap a ranger band on it. That’s the first time I heard of putting a ranger band on a zippo! That’s a good idea. Thanks for sharing the tips Bryan. Great video! Now go get some rest.
Buy the little Zippo fluid canister and you're set with the Exotac for a WHILE!! Lighter fluid is $80 a gallon. 😂i don't want it evaporating at all if I can help it.
I’ve had butane lighters fail to work will winter camping. I have successfully used a zippo with a ranger band but appreciate the Exotac lighter is not only not going to loose fluid to evaporation but is also the most waterproof of the 3.
Great video; thanks a lot. I always go with petrol lighters. In case of a survival situation You can fill them with other flammable liquids, like thinner, Isopropyl, etc. and they simply work. Evaporation is a problem, for sure. I use a Zippo simply because it is my favourite. My EDC-Zippo is a 1999 H.R. Giger from a limited series which was only available in Japan and at the H.R. Giger Museum in Switzerland. In the 1990s I also had an IMCO (and I believe there are still some replicas being manufactured these days, even if the original manufacturer does not exist anymore). That design had much less problems regarding evaporation compared to the Zippo. It had a smaller tank but held up much longer than a Zippo. It was smaller and lighter and kinda looked sexy in its own way.
For emergency get home bags etc I put a mini BIC (spark wheel) .. and a mini peanut lighter I bought from county comm.. the peanut lighter uses standard lighter fuel and has o-rings to keep it from evaporating... The mini Bic in my kits have a zip tie around them underneath the button to keep the butane from accidentally leaking out.... I have had Bic lighters that were sitting for long periods of time in the garage and the mini Ferro rod Flint.. completely disintegrated in corrosion!!! So if you have a BIC . Definitely switch it out of your kits at least every two years
Exotac - one huge disadvantage is to have a loose lid. Easier to misplace or fumble away. Should have a chain to hold it to the body at least ... You didn't touch on the o-rings probably making it totally waterproof, as compared to the Zippo.
That's why I put a lanyard on mine. Can't lose a lid hanging around my neck. Turn it upside down, open, check for fluid migration in case of overfill. Put extra fluid back in if desired. Wipe lighter and hands, strike. I mean you can put a lanyard on it long enough to Gorilla tape the cord to the lighter body, and since I wrap a little Gorilla tape around mine for spare tinder that works too. I use the 1 inch roll. We usually keep a little extra Gorilla tape in the pack too. The smaller Exotac parts, WHOLE kit, goes along right next to a Zippo fuel canister
When a BIC is too cold to light all you have to do is rub it vigorously against your jeans for a few seconds. The friction is enough to make the gas flow.
Zippo every day any day they sell a very small bottle of fluid 1oz or 2 also under the 1st layer extra flints and wick can be stored you also have the cotton you can use as tender using the flint sticker you have fire again .u s army tricks
Everyone should check out Zorro lighters. They're essentially Zippos, but they fixed the leaking problems, and the cases and hinges are much more durable. They're not waterproof like the Exotac, but for people who are attached to Zippo, it's a good alternative.
@@tikkidaddy they don't. However, they can run on white gas, which is pretty much the standard for camping (Coleman Fuel). I'm putting my Zorro 912S in my bugout bag, along with a bunch of white gas, and my 24 year old MSR camp stove, that still runs like it's brand new. I bought some spare o-rings, flints, and wicks for the Zorro as well. For regular cigar lighting or car camping, I'll just use my Zippo. White gas and naphthalene, are pretty much identical hydrocarbon fuels, and they'll light up in very cold weather. Butane and propane have trouble in cold weather. That said, I use my Bic for stuff around the house, like melting paracord or cut webbing. I also keep a Bic in my vehicle, because I live in Northern VA. It only gets really cold here, like once every 12 years.
I got a 912 s and I LOVE that dang thing. Its chonky, nearly unbreakable hinge, and yes you can put a regular ZIPPO insert in it with just a bit of heavy plastic freezer bag wrapped on the bottom of the insert 😆 Holds fluid about 2 weeks
If they all run out of fuel, the Bic can still ignite a fire. Once the protective metal guard is removed, the thumbwheel can be run across a surface to create serious sparks. If something like a tissue is thumb held in place to receive the sparks, it will easily ignite. So, a Bic is actually a useful fire starter for a very long time, with or without fuel.
I know it's too late to check the weight of the lighters empty but you might be able to tell how much fuel evaporated by weighing the lighters each time you check them for the evaporation test.
Good test would have been how long would you have to put a Bic near your body heat before it would light? It's a small mass, so I'm guessing not too long. Probably same time as gathering tinder and fuel.
Great video.I use bic don 't smoke seed them in trucks packs equipement.Quite often they don ' work,so I replace them.Use zippo with ranger band for yrs.Will evaperate.I do maintenence on it.Carry all kinds of suff in fire kits.Been known to go winter swiming.Sm. can sterno,little fire sticks,magn. glass ect.Even cut open shotgun shell after 1 swim. added fero rod. Hope this helps.
I use a Zippo everyday because I smoke. The Exotac lighter may be great for survival but I'm not going to sit there 20 times a day and unscrew the top to light a cigarette
Zippo in a survival situation is a recipe for disaster. Even with a Thyrm “sealed” lighter case they lose fuel rapidly. A bic in an Exotac Firesleeve is a good option
All lighters lose fuel, it just varies based on type, I like Torjet, dirt cheap, jet flame, (great in bad weather) refillable, Buy a bunch, Only downside, they use up fuel fast, (like all jet flames)
Zippo is nice and all but it is probably the worst survival fire starter, unless you're willing to keep fueling it every few months lol. The bic and exotac can be fueled and forget and still be reliable.
I'm still a Bic man. I like the Exo', but for the dough, it'll always be hard to beat the Bic. For the price difference would even have money left to purchase a small dry box to store a few extra items.
My Titanlight has lasted 2 years, light occasionally to check. I tried the freezerbag, cotton Bacon trick and even sealed it with electrical tape. 2 months max, no use. Next time I repack the Exotac and rewick I'm using cotton bacon tho😂
I’ve carried the same Clipper for years. Cheaper than Bic, refillable (fuel and flint) and flint striker is removable for stand alone use. Not China made.
Bic lighters are good but try holding one for a long time it'll get hot and melt a Zippo is a quick mini stove set it on a flat Rock hold your can over it you can't do that with the Bic lighter
I prefer a few Bic's around in my pockets, they hold for decades and if one fails just grab another, Zipo is just fun to collect and Exotac is just a big rip off for a Wall Street weekend prepper
I have a Bic in my pocket always too but they are not perfect. and Exotac is an aexcellent product that offers advantages the Bic does not have. I like both.
Zippos have other option inserts. Regular that comes with it like you tested, single butane flame, double butane flame and a x electric flame that you can recharge just like a phone. Test those.
Maybe I will, that would be a fun video. But, to be fair, one of the benefits I like about a liquid fuel lighter is the ability to light it and set it under your tinder while it burns without having to hold it. I don't think you can do that with any of the inserts (or other butane or electric lighters.)
How many bics can you buy for 28$, and how long do they last. Ive been out in coldass Michigan weather and never had a problem with a bic, if your in the arctic and need to unfreeze it stick it in your armpit for a moment. If you need a cave candle maybe one of those might help but I can stuff my bag full of bics for the same price. Had a few zippos over a lifetime and always just annoyed when you go back to them and they are evaporated and need a fill. If I am going to let something sit in a pack for years on end its probably going to be a bic, or even better a higher end bic (yes they make multiple types)
that's kinda where I'm at in my conclusion after going down the lighter complete rabbit hole from the different types and brands,etc while I try to get an emergency preparedness kit going on a frugal budget. Probably will get a 10 pack of bics for ~$11 bucks, never open it and stick it in a box with a bunch of long 90hr runtime $1.50 odorless tall prayer candles and call it a day. Realistically I doubt my environment would ever get cold enough where a bic wouldn't just light right on up and if not holding it against my body for a few would warm it up. I wouldn't mind a $10 walmart zippo for absolute worst case scenario where alternative fuel sources could be used but even that is pretty low on my priority list right now. I'd much rather use money towards non perishable food than upteen different expensive light sources. Chuck a $10 ferro rod and striker in the emergency kit and sleep easy too. About once every 6 months or so I charge up a few old cellphones to be able to use their flashlight mode so I don't have to buy expensive battery hungry lanterns too
For general use, my Zippo rules, but among the 3 shown here, for SURVIVAL, I'd take the Titan hands down. But in truth, for survival, a Tinder wick (Uberleben, BTTO) n my ferro rod are my go to. If the Titan was a bit less pricey, I'd have one in every bag. I'm so not a fan of Bics. I have at least 9 no name disposable lighters (at this time) that outperform the Bic in every way. Remember, we are talking abt a survival situation; that Titan is simply the better option. Thanks for the heads up Bryan. Many Blessings.
Just found your video, I have always used zippos and bic’s, I work a decent amount in cold weather and that’s the main problem with a bic, when the temp gets down into the 30’s and 40’s the bic will not light and when you have been out in the cold it takes your body heat about 10 to 15 minutes to warm the bic up enough to get even a small flame, in cold weather I always carry my zippo. In cold weather survival a butane based lighter is the absolute worst option.
In all my survival kits I have P.A.CE planned for fire. I like to try new things so I will checkout the exotac. But bic lighters are my go to. I have a few zippos and got a stainless steel fuel can with one in a kit. I also have a lighter here somewhere that is milsurp that is similar to the exotac. It works holds fuel like a champ. So for me four ways to make fire 3 of each in every kit. That's 12 options. Enjoyed the video 😊
@@SurvivalOnPurpose Heard other UA-cam people saying "you can juat leave it to start a fire". Bet they didn't take into consideration that metal expands and contracts with heat. Thanx again brother. Would hate to ruin my zippo.
And the best part is it doesn't leak fluid in your pocket I've owned a lot of Zippo lighters always had to make sure my Zippo lighters are always full because it was evaporate is exotech does not evaporate because of the seals
Nothing like a dollar refillable wind proof butane lighter. Just carry lighter fluid kerosense based if camping. BTW only gases burn as liquids turn to gas prior combustion.
I've carried a titan light for about a year amd it doesn't appear to have lost any fuel by evaporation, but I did overfill it at first and it set my hand on fire, just a flash
I know they're made in China, but who has experience with Zorro lighters, like the Zorro 912? They're much better lighters than Zippo, with beter hinges, machined metal, a sealed bottom on the insert, and they have o-rings where the cap seals the lighter shut. I want to buy one, but i'm nit sure where I can get extra flints for it.
The Douglas S Field from Japan is wonderful. At the time I key this the cheapest I can find a genuine Douglass S is over $100. The old IMCOs were great too, held fluid way longer than a Zippo. The major problem for those of us who live in the Southern US in the summer is fuel evaporation . No fluid lighter I have ever owned has held fluid longer than the Exotac or the Maratac XL brass peanut
The only problem is that in a survival kit if one doesn't keep the zippos/ type topped up with fuel, the day u need it will be the day it will have all evaporated LOL. I think again the best lighter is the one for the environment ur in, eg tropics and warm climates a BIC will b fine, cold, high altitudes, White spirit lighters, although i used to have a Windmill windproof lighter and it was just fine at high altitude and incredibly windproof. And of course in super warm climates that zippos fuel will tend to evaporate more quickly than at colder temps. In some countries, it is very hard to get a hold of white spirit but gas just about anywhere. They pretty much even out I reckon.
@@SurvivalOnPurpose That's pretty amazing then if the seal is that good. One other thing i thought about more in relation to a disadvantage to having a flame constantly on (lots of advantages obviously) is that if one accidentally dropped it, it could start an (unintended) fire. eg in my country where it's very very dry, and I'm thinking dry grass etc. I'll check those exotacs, just quickly, maybe u said it what are their bodies made out of? i know the Zippos are of course metal. Thanks,
Have you tried a Douglass Field S lighter? Made with O rings and even has a small (& sealed) storage tank for emergency lighter fluid as well as storage for a spare flint.
I did a full tank test once. It burned for almost 30 minutes if I remember it correctly and I had to replace the insert. The wheel lost the hardness and didnt produce good enough sparks anymore.
Brian, Gotta love the free state of Gawga. BTW, I know of a great fence company that does great work for pennies on the dollar in E Cobb if you ever change your mind about that fence. Just got 3 quotes and these guys came out on top! (Just rib'n ya a little)
As en ex chain smoker I'd say the Bic is a very reliable method to make a cigarette burn. So is the Zippo if it is maintained. Both can fail. The Bic is not so great in wet weather. The good thing about a Zippo is that it can be left to burn like a candle and it will light damp materials better than a Bic. But I like both! I have next to no use for a "fire steel", the kind every "bushcrafter" shows off in every Bushcraft video. Most people from rural areas just pour diesel on the logs and get it goin fast.
@@SurvivalOnPurpose I have started to reconsider the suitability of disposable lighters for survival. There are really some serious safety drawbacks to these mechanisms! Personally I have experienced two accidents (that wasn't horseplay). In one the BIC exploded in a truck, after being dropped in an inaccessible place on a hot day. The other one was with a special disposable sight blacking lighter. Probably just a normal lighter with something added to the combustion that makes it burn with some sooth to the flame. This one refused to shut off, and I had to throw it in the grass. Where it died eventually. As a welder student I was taught not to bring a "BIC" in the shop, since they were "like a quarter stick of dynamite" (not quite true, but they're serious enough). So why bring something that can explode camping possibly even mixing it with combustible fluids!? These things are made for setting tobacco on fire, not to be around other flames. I'll stick to Ferro rods and Zippos for now. And matches of course, I find them the safest for starting the alcohol burners! Mythbusters have an episode testing disposable lighters, that you can find on YT. There have be deaths from malfunctions in disposable lighters.
DOUGLAS FIELD "S".......Top Shelf, sealed, extra fuel in sealed tank, extra flint in sealed tank cap, O-rings keeping flint & wick dry. Sealed fuel tank...TRENCH LUGHTER STYLE. Hand fitted and buttery smooth threads....but....$$. FYI, This is the "S" model, dont confuse with the "L" model.
This is the most redundant item in my pack. I pack an Exotac (orange/black with neck lanyard) and I try and pack a brand new Bic on each adventure...just a bad habit of mine, a Crocs lighter with the neck extension, a Zippo mini on my key chain, a Bic in my cooking kit, a Bic in my IFAK, one in a survival Altoids tin (along with some tinder), a Light My Fire ferro rod and often a ferro rod with my full tang knife and a waterproof container filled with storm-proof matches with a striking board. I was on a backpacking trip with two buddies in the Swiss Alps and between the three of us we had a small box of wet matches and my zippo would not light. Spooning with two guys ain't my idea of fun. I don't think Bic lighters existed back then. I said never again! Too many hikers perished from ill preparation. It may be over kill on my part but my grandma, may she RIP, always told me "better to have it and not need it than to not have it and need it." On one of my recent trips to Walmart I picked up one of those flame-thrower lighters. Although rather larger and heavier than a Bic I use it to dry out tinder even if the tinder was placed in a drying pouch. The hurricane season has given us quite a bit of extra rain.
5:20 Quick question: why, when you know this about Bic lighters, do you let it get that cold? Surely one would just carry it inside you clothing close to the skin where it's 37C? Another one: why would anyone in their right mind light a lighter and leave it burning? That Zippo looks like it was about to self-destruct! The trick that most people miss with a Bic is using a flame extender! Like a good quality candle, or even a tea light. Light it with a Bic (takes about 2-3 seconds) and slip the tea light under a kindling bundle, and off you go! This way you get many more fires from your Bic (Amazon do a 3-pack special on Bics for $2.37!) Why have only one with you? [one in the pocket, one in the fire kit, and one in a pack pocket!] Sure the Exotac is a great product and works really well, but if cost is the issue, you can buy 12 Bic 3-packs (ie 36 Bics) for the same price! Used sparingly, one can get many fires, possibly several hundred, from just one Bic lighter. It is a method of creating a flame, which must then be used to ignite the fire. THIS is where the skill comes in. The Bic does not necessarily replace the tinder, it merely ignites it, then it's the same as for any other method. Longevity: In our household we have a couple of Bics, which have been there for nearly a decade (for lighting the gas stove when the power is out), and it still works fine every time! Zippo's are notorious for running dry! The one in my shed is so old I can't even remember when it was bought! The one we used for barbeques lives outside, usually in the charcoal bag, in all weather conditions, and has never failed! The bottom line is that common sense must prevail to get best results. Thanks for the opportunity to contribute. Cheers mate!
I switched toTesla, Waterproof, rechargeable plasma arc lighters. Infinite fire for life with a solar panel. It instantly seals paracord perfectly. Built-in flashlight. Orange color, this is the future. I'm never going back to Bic lighters this is way better and convenient.
I have a Zippo in a Thyrm PyroVault Lighter Armor and I have an Exotac. However, I do have a Bic on my Paracord reel. It is very difficult for me to use the Bic due to Muscular Dystrophy and the difficult nature of having to hold the gas open on it. But, nothing beats just having plenty of skills and some fire making tinder like Fiber Light Fire tinder and Tinder boost to really make a fire! Or, you can just let mother nature burn up the countryside! Almost a hundred thousand acres burning around us right now in Montana!! Been watching retardant planes taking off and landing! Supposed to be even more extreme tomorrow!! Then, for some parts of Montana we are expecting 2-8 inches of snow on Monday night into Tuesday! LOL
Zippo has a metal butane butane insert, it makes up for the old zippo weaknesses. You freezer test, is unrealistic. Warm up the lighter by keeping it on your body before you use it.
All I can say is: Learn how to use your BiC, mate!!! There are so many mods that you can do to your BiC: wick it, add a gas lock which can also double as a lasting fire lock, wrap it with gorilla tape, waterproof it (although BiC recovers after 2 minutes of blowing and shaking), etc, etc. Learn to use your BiC, mate! In terms of BiC not working in the cold - HaHa! You keep your lighter in your pocket (close to your body) - why would you keep it anywhere else? If your body is below 0 degrees Celsius, you've got bigger problems than your BiC not lighting up :) If it's very-very cold and your BiC is not lighting up, just hold it in your hands for couple of minutes (shaking it also helps) and Bob's your uncle! BiC is designed to produce 3,000 sparks. With couple of meters of waxed wick attached to it,. you can make a single BiC lighter last for a decade. Even when the gas runs out, you still have your waxed wick (fluff it, add a very little bit of hand sanitiser gel) and you've got fire. I've built quite an elaborate Fire Kit that has every imaginable way of starting fire - and it weighed well over 800g (2lb) in its compact state. Then I started downsizing - replacing unnecessary weight with knowledge and experience is an art form - it's the essence of fieldcraft! Now my whole fire kit consists of 2 modified BiC lighters, each weighing 27g (less than 1oz).
So what if all your clothes and you are soaking wet in sub-zero temperatures? Like I said, I ALWAYS have a Bic lighter in my pocket, but I understand they have limitations.
@@SurvivalOnPurpose And if she's a real good woman there's a TitanLight under the tree, a MatchCap XL, and some UCO Storm proof Titan matches under the tree😂
Bryan, I carry a Tesla Plasma Arc lighter in all my kits. They are safe, wind proof, no fuel to leak, no flame to burn you, and work in any weather condition. They charge by a usb cable from my solar charger in my kit. Only way to go my friend.
An all metal clipper lighter is one of the best... holds a good amount of fluid, decently wind proof and you could also remove the spark wheel and Flint assembly to use it as a fire starter in an emergency if you run out of fluid
The BIC lighters can rust in wet or humid environments and they are not refillable 🔥
The Winlite butane lighter is much better in every way !
Love my Exotac. I loved my zippo, until it didnt light after sitting for too long. Not being a smoker, camping is my only use. The Exotac can sit for months (and mine has) and still light up. I also have a tiny peanut lighter that is sealed that has set in my tiny emergency firekit for over 2 years and still lights up. Zippo wasn't ever marketed as a survival lighter.
Great point!
I switch to Tesla plasma Arc lighters and I will never go back to the old ways. They are waterproof infinite power for life with a solar panel you never have to worry about fuel again
Interesting demo. I always carry a Bic with me, but I have had trouble with them in cold weather. Full size is better. Zippo is more cost effective for me in cold weather. Thanks and take care.
BIC or Cricket are the way to go. They simply DO NOT fail - ex-smoker. Trust me, if you can light a cig in any condition, you can get a fire started. I have used them at 9000 ft, 0° F, Rain, Blizzard, Hurricane.
Use flame extender if you need flame longer. Rope soaked w/wax, rolled duct tape, ranger band, etc. I have NEVER needed anything else!! Note: I carry ferro rod, matches, Fresnel lens, and spare BICs, just in case, just like I carry more than one cutting tool, pair of socks, batteries, etc.
There is no need to carry the extra weight of a zippo and deal with the leakage. To each his own.
The Exotac is a great concept: extra weight and cost, fuel won’t last as long as a BIC. To each his own.
A BIC w/tie wrap or zip tie (impossible to leak), in Ziploc baggies - cut off the zipper so it rolls up easier, several cotton balls w/Vaseline all wrapped up with a rubber band in left front pants pocket.
No leaks, waterproof, start fire in any condition, weighs nothing, always with you. Back-ups in your food/mess kit.
I actually am a smoker, rolling into papers that dont burn on their own so I need to light each cig several times. I put some Crickets to the test. The cheap ones without flame adjustment. They failed after two months max. The flame got 5 inch tall, the wheels got dull, the spring weakened too. As long as you start a fire once a day it may last but not 100 times a day. Garbage. I had a big piezzo jet lighter before it and it lasted 10 months before I had to replace the piezzo igniter from cheaper piezzo lighters. I thought that Crickets where I can change the flint and refill the gas (unlike BIC ) were an upgrade to an immortal lighter but they were not.
Jet lighters are the best. The fuel economy is great. Gas is mixed with air and has a higher temperature while burning less gas. The nozzle doesnt even get that hot. It never melts (unlike BIC type lighters) Couple of miliseconds long click and the cig or a candle is burning. I even used it to solder wires. I kept it burning for couple of minutes - I abused it a lot. If there was one with a heavy duty piezzo igniter it would be perfect. They are not meant to last
Zippo also sells a small O ring sealed fuel container good for one filling that carries spare flints.
Aliexpress
The exotac and the Zippo style lighter can also be multi fuel lighters, in a pinch you can use lamp oil, alchhol, white gas, or any other somewhat flammable liquid in them. The manufacturers will say no. But, they are just an old oil lamp in a pocket design. So they shud work with other fuels. Try that with ur Bic.....
I don't buy anything that doesn't work with white gas or kerosene.
A gallon of Crown white gas will last you an Eternity in a Titanlight. Just transfer it to a Zippo or Ronsonol can!😂. Trust me, this old boy ain't paying a $1 an OUNCE for some ZLF or Ronsonol
I carry both.
I like Zippo fluid but I've used camp gas many times. It's a little harder to get lit and it burns dirtier but it's way cheaper. I keep a gallon around in case things get bad plus I still use the old Coleman lanterns when catfishing. I guess I'm a little old-school with my Zippo lighters and Coleman lanterns.😊
IN COLD WEATHER ITS SMART TO KEEP A BIC CLOSE TO YOUR BODY WHERE IT'S WARM
takeaways from this video, Titan light is not worth the money. Its all good to have fluid in a light but, it blows out too easily. Zippos like wise runs out of fuel to easily. Bics to me is the perfect combination. Fuel doesnt leak and it will work if you know how to use it properly. ANY lighter should be stored close to your body. Gas lighters are the biggest fails here. But, with all of the faults, a standard bic is cheaper, easier to replace, plentiful and the fact that I have used one daily for the last 30+ years and it has never failed. I have been in freezing temps and a second or two to warm it up and it has worked fine. to me the titan light is a gimic they are bulky for a lighter, and $50 is way to much to pay for it. just my humble opinion.
@chris c. I carry a fresnel lens in my wallet . good call!
In my humble opinion, the 2 biggest things a Bic has going for it are price and the fact the fuel doesn't eveporate. But, let's be fair. There are quite a few practical adavantages offered by liquid fuel lighters, especially if you can solve the eveporation issue - which Exotac seems to have done. Yes, they are much more expensive but, unless you lose it, it should literally last decades.
@@SurvivalOnPurposeep main advantage being that if you land in an abandoned site, old mine, small sandbar with a small empty building etc ...not ro start about a post apocalyptic scenario... The liquid fuel obe can take some oil, benzine, kerosene, even moonshine or any type of flammable liquid you may find and work .
This for me is what cannot be matched. Could literally use any flammable oil . Could carry 200 flint in your shtf bag @@galadballcrusher8182
The other key take away is FIND it on sale or the used market😆
Yeah the fluid certainly leaks out of the zippo. If it’s an edc item it really isn’t that big of a problem provided you can make a weekly ritual of filling it. Another important fact is tgat the zippo and Ronson fluid is VERY similar to coleman white gas. In fact, the performance is basically identical. The trick is how to get it from the gallon can and into the lighters. I keep a small msr bottle for this purpose. To fuel the lighter, I use a small children’s medicine syringe. It works great. About 7CCs of coleman or crown fuel seems to be the right amount for a dry zippo.
For extended storage I vacuum sealed a full zippo with my food saver and it was still full months later. Of course, as soon as you tear open the bag the clock is ticking... but it’s a good way to keep the lighter in a kit. If there is a white gas stove also in the kit the two items can share the fuel supply. A clever person might even figure out how to use a partially disassembled whisperlite to fill their lighter... thanks for the video...
Get an empty Zippo or Ronsonol can and pry the red spout top off with a flathead screwdriver. Get a small funnel that fits the can. Use a measuring cup and pour the listed amount of white gas into the can!😂 You can transfer the fuel into a quart jar for easier filling of your lighter fluid cans. The transferred fuel will not evaporate in a Mason Jar. Keep the jar in a cool dry place just like the big cans😂
Zippo butane lighter inserts (other companies make them too) are better than any of these options. Reliable, directional blue flame torch. Refillable. Easy to light after being submerged. Wind-resistant. No more burnt fingers. Never had one fail.
I have always carried a Bic lighter everyday since I was in boy scouts, I even carried one in junior and senior high. I didn't and don't smoke but I always have one incase I needed a quick fire right away. And if I'm going someone where I could get wet I also throw a ferro rod in my pocket and I always have a knife on me.
Anyone who has done any serious camping always carries a BIC LOL.
@@BushCampingToolsI carried matches in a leak proof case. They worked, but the number of matches is limited. Bics are okay, but your fingers start getting really hot, if you keep them on long enough.
I've ordered a soft flame butane insert for my zippo so i can still use it as an edc but it's a lot more fuel friendly and won't have to top up constantly.
I would do that, but I don't smoke. My lighters are purely for lighting camp fires.
That was pretty funny! Especially when the zippo had a growing flame! I think for the price, the zippo is a much better choice. With the money you can save with the zippo purchase, you can buy a small bottle of fluid to fill it if it evaporates. Or wrap a ranger band on it. That’s the first time I heard of putting a ranger band on a zippo! That’s a good idea. Thanks for sharing the tips Bryan. Great video! Now go get some rest.
Get a ccw and start packkng
Buy the little Zippo fluid canister and you're set with the Exotac for a WHILE!! Lighter fluid is $80 a gallon. 😂i don't want it evaporating at all if I can help it.
This is a very revealing test
The ExoTac seems to be a very good lighter and the best when used in difficult situations.
I’ve had butane lighters fail to work will winter camping. I have successfully used a zippo with a ranger band but appreciate the Exotac lighter is not only not going to loose fluid to evaporation but is also the most waterproof of the 3.
Yep. if I can ever find the one I lost it's gonna be a great long term test ;-)
Great video; thanks a lot. I always go with petrol lighters. In case of a survival situation You can fill them with other flammable liquids, like thinner, Isopropyl, etc. and they simply work. Evaporation is a problem, for sure. I use a Zippo simply because it is my favourite. My EDC-Zippo is a 1999 H.R. Giger from a limited series which was only available in Japan and at the H.R. Giger Museum in Switzerland. In the 1990s I also had an IMCO (and I believe there are still some replicas being manufactured these days, even if the original manufacturer does not exist anymore). That design had much less problems regarding evaporation compared to the Zippo. It had a smaller tank but held up much longer than a Zippo. It was smaller and lighter and kinda looked sexy in its own way.
If you can find other flammable liquids, like thinner, Isopropyl, etc then it's not a survival situation.
For emergency get home bags etc I put a mini BIC (spark wheel) .. and a mini peanut lighter I bought from county comm.. the peanut lighter uses standard lighter fuel and has o-rings to keep it from evaporating... The mini Bic in my kits have a zip tie around them underneath the button to keep the butane from accidentally leaking out.... I have had Bic lighters that were sitting for long periods of time in the garage and the mini Ferro rod Flint.. completely disintegrated in corrosion!!! So if you have a BIC . Definitely switch it out of your kits at least every two years
Exotac - one huge disadvantage is to have a loose lid. Easier to misplace or fumble away. Should have a chain to hold it to the body at least ... You didn't touch on the o-rings probably making it totally waterproof, as compared to the Zippo.
That's why I put a lanyard on mine. Can't lose a lid hanging around my neck. Turn it upside down, open, check for fluid migration in case of overfill. Put extra fluid back in if desired. Wipe lighter and hands, strike. I mean you can put a lanyard on it long enough to Gorilla tape the cord to the lighter body, and since I wrap a little Gorilla tape around mine for spare tinder that works too. I use the 1 inch roll. We usually keep a little extra Gorilla tape in the pack too. The smaller Exotac parts, WHOLE kit, goes along right next to a Zippo fuel canister
When a BIC is too cold to light all you have to do is rub it vigorously against your jeans for a few seconds. The friction is enough to make the gas flow.
Yeah and with a zippo you don't have to do that at all and a zippo doesn't break so easily
@@pootis388 very true
Zippo every day any day they sell a very small bottle of fluid 1oz or 2 also under the 1st layer extra flints and wick can be stored you also have the cotton you can use as tender using the flint sticker you have fire again .u s army tricks
Everyone should check out Zorro lighters. They're essentially Zippos, but they fixed the leaking problems, and the cases and hinges are much more durable. They're not waterproof like the Exotac, but for people who are attached to Zippo, it's a good alternative.
ZORROS are tanks, but they still don't hold fluid as long as an EXOTAC, Maratac Peanut XL, or even the humble, cheap, and fragile leaky BIC.
@@tikkidaddy they don't. However, they can run on white gas, which is pretty much the standard for camping (Coleman Fuel). I'm putting my Zorro 912S in my bugout bag, along with a bunch of white gas, and my 24 year old MSR camp stove, that still runs like it's brand new. I bought some spare o-rings, flints, and wicks for the Zorro as well. For regular cigar lighting or car camping, I'll just use my Zippo. White gas and naphthalene, are pretty much identical hydrocarbon fuels, and they'll light up in very cold weather. Butane and propane have trouble in cold weather. That said, I use my Bic for stuff around the house, like melting paracord or cut webbing. I also keep a Bic in my vehicle, because I live in Northern VA. It only gets really cold here, like once every 12 years.
I got a 912 s and I LOVE that dang thing. Its chonky, nearly unbreakable hinge, and yes you can put a regular ZIPPO insert in it with just a bit of heavy plastic freezer bag wrapped on the bottom of the insert 😆 Holds fluid about 2 weeks
If they all run out of fuel, the Bic can still ignite a fire. Once the protective metal guard is removed, the thumbwheel can be run across a surface to create serious sparks. If something like a tissue is thumb held in place to receive the sparks, it will easily ignite. So, a Bic is actually a useful fire starter for a very long time, with or without fuel.
A Zippo lighter will shoot out Sparks 2 it has a Flint
I know it's too late to check the weight of the lighters empty but you might be able to tell how much fuel evaporated by weighing the lighters each time you check them for the evaporation test.
It’s probably not very much deference
From PA....I'll buy two Zippos!!
Hmmm. Wouldn't that just mean you have 2 empty lighters once the fuel has evaporated?
@@SurvivalOnPurpose well...yeh!!😂 But I always have a backup plan....or two!! If you ever get up here, go to the Zippo museum!!
Good test would have been how long would you have to put a Bic near your body heat before it would light? It's a small mass, so I'm guessing not too long. Probably same time as gathering tinder and fuel.
Great video.I use bic don 't smoke seed them in trucks packs equipement.Quite often they don ' work,so I replace them.Use zippo with ranger band for yrs.Will evaperate.I do maintenence on it.Carry all kinds of suff in fire kits.Been known to go winter swiming.Sm. can sterno,little fire sticks,magn.
glass ect.Even cut open shotgun shell after 1 swim.
added fero rod. Hope this helps.
Zippo with a fuel canister. Canister has o rings and will stay full. The wind resistance is worth the extra carry.
maybe
You can carry an empty Zippo, and just fill it with the white gas you use for your camp stove.
I carry those with the Titanlight.😂😂
I use a Zippo everyday because I smoke. The Exotac lighter may be great for survival but I'm not going to sit there 20 times a day and unscrew the top to light a cigarette
True
love the look of Zippos but they're very temperamental. Not for survival situations or bushcraft
Zippo in a survival situation is a recipe for disaster. Even with a Thyrm “sealed” lighter case they lose fuel rapidly. A bic in an Exotac Firesleeve is a good option
All lighters lose fuel, it just varies based on type,
I like Torjet, dirt cheap, jet flame, (great in bad weather) refillable,
Buy a bunch,
Only downside, they use up fuel fast, (like all jet flames)
@chris c.
Yes, a lens is a must, forget those pistons and parabolic,
a lens, lighters, fire steels,
Not Knockin' That Ga. Made Lighter, But Gimme A Zippo Any Day ! Thanks, Bryan ! ATB T God Bless
Zippo is nice and all but it is probably the worst survival fire starter, unless you're willing to keep fueling it every few months lol. The bic and exotac can be fueled and forget and still be reliable.
I'm still a Bic man. I like the Exo', but for the dough, it'll always be hard to beat the Bic. For the price difference would even have money left to purchase a small dry box to store a few extra items.
You can pick a Ziploc bag at the bottom of the Zippo put it at the bottom insert and you can use bacon cotton and it lasts for 3 weeks
My Titanlight has lasted 2 years, light occasionally to check. I tried the freezerbag, cotton Bacon trick and even sealed it with electrical tape. 2 months max, no use. Next time I repack the Exotac and rewick I'm using cotton bacon tho😂
I’ve carried the same Clipper for years. Cheaper than Bic, refillable (fuel and flint) and flint striker is removable for stand alone use. Not China made.
I to use a clipper and I like it very much over a BIC lighter
Although I do prefer torch type lighter
Bic lighters are good but try holding one for a long time it'll get hot and melt a Zippo is a quick mini stove set it on a flat Rock hold your can over it you can't do that with the Bic lighter
I prefer a few Bic's around in my pockets, they hold for decades and if one fails just grab another, Zipo is just fun to collect and Exotac is just a big rip off for a Wall Street weekend prepper
I have a Bic in my pocket always too but they are not perfect. and Exotac is an aexcellent product that offers advantages the Bic does not have. I like both.
Zippos have other option inserts. Regular that comes with it like you tested, single butane flame, double butane flame and a x electric flame that you can recharge just like a phone.
Test those.
Maybe I will, that would be a fun video. But, to be fair, one of the benefits I like about a liquid fuel lighter is the ability to light it and set it under your tinder while it burns without having to hold it. I don't think you can do that with any of the inserts (or other butane or electric lighters.)
Be careful that flint.might explode I used to heat them up as a kid and throw them and make huge sparks it was fun lol
How many bics can you buy for 28$, and how long do they last. Ive been out in coldass Michigan weather and never had a problem with a bic, if your in the arctic and need to unfreeze it stick it in your armpit for a moment. If you need a cave candle maybe one of those might help but I can stuff my bag full of bics for the same price. Had a few zippos over a lifetime and always just annoyed when you go back to them and they are evaporated and need a fill. If I am going to let something sit in a pack for years on end its probably going to be a bic, or even better a higher end bic (yes they make multiple types)
that's kinda where I'm at in my conclusion after going down the lighter complete rabbit hole from the different types and brands,etc while I try to get an emergency preparedness kit going on a frugal budget. Probably will get a 10 pack of bics for ~$11 bucks, never open it and stick it in a box with a bunch of long 90hr runtime $1.50 odorless tall prayer candles and call it a day. Realistically I doubt my environment would ever get cold enough where a bic wouldn't just light right on up and if not holding it against my body for a few would warm it up. I wouldn't mind a $10 walmart zippo for absolute worst case scenario where alternative fuel sources could be used but even that is pretty low on my priority list right now. I'd much rather use money towards non perishable food than upteen different expensive light sources. Chuck a $10 ferro rod and striker in the emergency kit and sleep easy too. About once every 6 months or so I charge up a few old cellphones to be able to use their flashlight mode so I don't have to buy expensive battery hungry lanterns too
For general use, my Zippo rules, but among the 3 shown here, for SURVIVAL, I'd take the Titan hands down. But in truth, for survival, a Tinder wick (Uberleben, BTTO) n my ferro rod are my go to. If the Titan was a bit less pricey, I'd have one in every bag. I'm so not a fan of Bics. I have at least 9 no name disposable lighters (at this time) that outperform the Bic in every way. Remember, we are talking abt a survival situation; that Titan is simply the better option. Thanks for the heads up Bryan. Many Blessings.
Thanks back
Just found your video, I have always used zippos and bic’s, I work a decent amount in cold weather and that’s the main problem with a bic, when the temp gets down into the 30’s and 40’s the bic will not light and when you have been out in the cold it takes your body heat about 10 to 15 minutes to warm the bic up enough to get even a small flame, in cold weather I always carry my zippo.
In cold weather survival a butane based lighter is the absolute worst option.
In all my survival kits I have P.A.CE planned for fire. I like to try new things so I will checkout the exotac. But bic lighters are my go to. I have a few zippos and got a stainless steel fuel can with one in a kit. I also have a lighter here somewhere that is milsurp that is similar to the exotac. It works holds fuel like a champ. So for me four ways to make fire 3 of each in every kit. That's 12 options. Enjoyed the video 😊
You could use the Zippo and a can as an alcohol stove if in a pinch
When you feel it cut Ziploc bag where it hangs a quarter from each side and goes halfway up then slide it in Zippo
Good test, I didn't know a zippo would burn up like that. Glad I watched this video.
Only when it gets really hot
@@SurvivalOnPurpose Heard other UA-cam people saying "you can juat leave it to start a fire". Bet they didn't take into consideration that metal expands and contracts with heat. Thanx again brother. Would hate to ruin my zippo.
Love the tests and the demos. Thanks.
I filled my exo-tech one time it's the last 3 years with the same fluid in it I want to use it when I go camping
Yep
And the best part is it doesn't leak fluid in your pocket I've owned a lot of Zippo lighters always had to make sure my Zippo lighters are always full because it was evaporate is exotech does not evaporate because of the seals
Yep
put a rager band around the bic lighter it helps and insulates the butane
Can't find a zippo around here for less than 15 bucks new, you can keep a needle in along side the fuel fiber along with a razor blade.
good tips
Nothing like a dollar refillable wind proof butane lighter. Just carry lighter fluid kerosense based if camping. BTW only gases burn as liquids turn to gas prior combustion.
Still using papa’s old zippo made in 1990. They just work
I've carried a titan light for about a year amd it doesn't appear to have lost any fuel by evaporation, but I did overfill it at first and it set my hand on fire, just a flash
Probabl will last years
I know they're made in China, but who has experience with Zorro lighters, like the Zorro 912? They're much better lighters than Zippo, with beter hinges, machined metal, a sealed bottom on the insert, and they have o-rings where the cap seals the lighter shut. I want to buy one, but i'm nit sure where I can get extra flints for it.
ZIPPO FLINTS work my friend.
No Imco or Douglass? Very limited view on the options available out there
Never heard of either one
@@SurvivalOnPurpose limited horizon. Do the research and learn something new ;-)
The Douglas S Field from Japan is wonderful. At the time I key this the cheapest I can find a genuine Douglass S is over $100. The old IMCOs were great too, held fluid way longer than a Zippo. The major problem for those of us who live in the Southern US in the summer is fuel evaporation . No fluid lighter I have ever owned has held fluid longer than the Exotac or the Maratac XL brass peanut
The only problem is that in a survival kit if one doesn't keep the zippos/ type topped up with fuel, the day u need it will be the day it will have all evaporated LOL. I think again the best lighter is the one for the environment ur in, eg tropics and warm climates a BIC will b fine, cold, high altitudes, White spirit lighters, although i used to have a Windmill windproof lighter and it was just fine at high altitude and incredibly windproof. And of course in super warm climates that zippos fuel will tend to evaporate more quickly than at colder temps. In some countries, it is very hard to get a hold of white spirit but gas just about anywhere. They pretty much even out I reckon.
I can tell you I have had one of the Exotac lighters in a bag for MONTHS and it has zero noticeable fuel loss. The O-ring seals just plain work.
@@SurvivalOnPurpose That's pretty amazing then if the seal is that good. One other thing i thought about more in relation to a disadvantage to having a flame constantly on (lots of advantages obviously) is that if one accidentally dropped it, it could start an (unintended) fire. eg in my country where it's very very dry, and I'm thinking dry grass etc. I'll check those exotacs, just quickly, maybe u said it what are their bodies made out of? i know the Zippos are of course metal.
Thanks,
Aluminum
@@SurvivalOnPurpose Thanks!
That test IS useful. Because it shows what would happen if you set them and forget to turn them off.
I think all of them are just as good as eachother, i personally would trend toward Clipper (better BICs from Spain) and the Exotac titanLIGHT
I like Clippers too
can someone explain to me why there is copper wire in the zippo cord ... does it have any function?😱😱
Чтобы фитиль не сгибался
Chinesium peanut lighter has the compactness of a mini bic and the cold weather startup of a zippo
but not the fuel capacity of the Made in the USA Exotac
@@SurvivalOnPurpose if I'm worried about fuel capacity I just carry a bottle of ronsonol
Have you tried a Douglass Field S lighter? Made with O rings and even has a small (& sealed) storage tank for emergency lighter fluid as well as storage for a spare flint.
hmmm
A FEW BIC's AND A FERRO ROD WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF MY SURVIVAL KIT.
Upcoming video. Cooking with a Zippo. Wait for the Bloom & put your pot of water on 🔥
Indeed
Just don't forget to blow on it, or loose your eyebrows,
I did a full tank test once. It burned for almost 30 minutes if I remember it correctly and I had to replace the insert. The wheel lost the hardness and didnt produce good enough sparks anymore.
Did you take off the child proof cap on top, in doing so the fuel will flow better.
no
Have you ever tried the rubber zippo gaskets? I’ve seen them on eBay and Amazon.
When is the long term test?
Over a year
What's better Zippo oder Exotac?
I think Exotac for survival
@@SurvivalOnPurpose I also, this is realy agood Lighter
Zippo is okay if the lighter is self-contained, if it has locking, or screw on lid, over time the lighter fluid leaks out.
Brian, Gotta love the free state of Gawga. BTW, I know of a great fence company that does great work for pennies on the dollar in E Cobb if you ever change your mind about that fence. Just got 3 quotes and these guys came out on top! (Just rib'n ya a little)
It definitely shows that the exotac is much safer and seems to have an almost engineered ability to be used as a candle light.
Thanks for the endorsement, paid shill
As en ex chain smoker I'd say the Bic is a very reliable method to make a cigarette burn. So is the Zippo if it is maintained. Both can fail. The Bic is not so great in wet weather. The good thing about a Zippo is that it can be left to burn like a candle and it will light damp materials better than a Bic. But I like both! I have next to no use for a "fire steel", the kind every "bushcrafter" shows off in every Bushcraft video. Most people from rural areas just pour diesel on the logs and get it goin fast.
I think a ferrocerium rod is one of the best long term peices of fire starting gear you can carry. But I laso carry a lighter ;-)
@@SurvivalOnPurpose I have started to reconsider the suitability of disposable lighters for survival. There are really some serious safety drawbacks to these mechanisms! Personally I have experienced two accidents (that wasn't horseplay). In one the BIC exploded in a truck, after being dropped in an inaccessible place on a hot day. The other one was with a special disposable sight blacking lighter. Probably just a normal lighter with something added to the combustion that makes it burn with some sooth to the flame. This one refused to shut off, and I had to throw it in the grass. Where it died eventually. As a welder student I was taught not to bring a "BIC" in the shop, since they were "like a quarter stick of dynamite" (not quite true, but they're serious enough). So why bring something that can explode camping possibly even mixing it with combustible fluids!? These things are made for setting tobacco on fire, not to be around other flames. I'll stick to Ferro rods and Zippos for now. And matches of course, I find them the safest for starting the alcohol burners! Mythbusters have an episode testing disposable lighters, that you can find on YT. There have be deaths from malfunctions in disposable lighters.
DOUGLAS FIELD "S".......Top Shelf, sealed, extra fuel in sealed tank, extra flint in sealed tank cap, O-rings keeping flint & wick dry. Sealed fuel tank...TRENCH LUGHTER STYLE. Hand fitted and buttery smooth threads....but....$$. FYI, This is the "S" model, dont confuse with the "L" model.
New subscriber here! Love stacking precious metals but now it's time to stack survival gadgets
Not buying a lighter over $5.00
Bics are so lightweight and cheap that you might as well toss one into each kit alongside the zippo.
This is the most redundant item in my pack. I pack an Exotac (orange/black with neck lanyard) and I try and pack a brand new Bic on each adventure...just a bad habit of mine, a Crocs lighter with the neck extension, a Zippo mini on my key chain, a Bic in my cooking kit, a Bic in my IFAK, one in a survival Altoids tin (along with some tinder), a Light My Fire ferro rod and often a ferro rod with my full tang knife and a waterproof container filled with storm-proof matches with a striking board. I was on a backpacking trip with two buddies in the Swiss Alps and between the three of us we had a small box of wet matches and my zippo would not light. Spooning with two guys ain't my idea of fun. I don't think Bic lighters existed back then. I said never again! Too many hikers perished from ill preparation. It may be over kill on my part but my grandma, may she RIP, always told me "better to have it and not need it than to not have it and need it." On one of my recent trips to Walmart I picked up one of those flame-thrower lighters. Although rather larger and heavier than a Bic I use it to dry out tinder even if the tinder was placed in a drying pouch. The hurricane season has given us quite a bit of extra rain.
Thee is no such thinig as too many ways to make a fire
I like your style😂
5:20 Quick question: why, when you know this about Bic lighters, do you let it get that cold? Surely one would just carry it inside you clothing close to the skin where it's 37C?
Another one: why would anyone in their right mind light a lighter and leave it burning? That Zippo looks like it was about to self-destruct! The trick that most people miss with a Bic is using a flame extender! Like a good quality candle, or even a tea light. Light it with a Bic (takes about 2-3 seconds) and slip the tea light under a kindling bundle, and off you go! This way you get many more fires from your Bic (Amazon do a 3-pack special on Bics for $2.37!) Why have only one with you? [one in the pocket, one in the fire kit, and one in a pack pocket!]
Sure the Exotac is a great product and works really well, but if cost is the issue, you can buy 12 Bic 3-packs (ie 36 Bics) for the same price!
Used sparingly, one can get many fires, possibly several hundred, from just one Bic lighter. It is a method of creating a flame, which must then be used to ignite the fire. THIS is where the skill comes in. The Bic does not necessarily replace the tinder, it merely ignites it, then it's the same as for any other method.
Longevity: In our household we have a couple of Bics, which have been there for nearly a decade (for lighting the gas stove when the power is out), and it still works fine every time! Zippo's are notorious for running dry! The one in my shed is so old I can't even remember when it was bought! The one we used for barbeques lives outside, usually in the charcoal bag, in all weather conditions, and has never failed!
The bottom line is that common sense must prevail to get best results.
Thanks for the opportunity to contribute.
Cheers mate!
Because you plan for the worst and hope for the best.
@@SurvivalOnPurpose Indeed.
I have a Douglass lighter from Japan that's my go to lighter
Shorten the wick as much as possible to get a controlled, extended burn time
Exotic recommends no more than one minute of burning at a time for the Titanlight, allowing the lighter to cool off. .
I use a Bic in an Exotac Fire sleeve.
Stick matches will always be very useful
Definitely!
I switched toTesla, Waterproof, rechargeable plasma arc lighters.
Infinite fire for life with a solar panel. It instantly seals paracord perfectly. Built-in flashlight. Orange color, this is the future.
I'm never going back to Bic lighters this is way better and convenient.
Until your batteries won't charge or your electronics go belly up
Everyone had the fav
Zip has fuel evaporation problem. Bic is non-refillable.
Your lighting could be better and a close up would be good .
I know. I am constantly amazed that I have managed to keep the channel afloat for 7 years now with such a huge lack of technical abilities.
I have a Zippo in a Thyrm PyroVault Lighter Armor and I have an Exotac. However, I do have a Bic on my Paracord reel. It is very difficult for me to use the Bic due to Muscular Dystrophy and the difficult nature of having to hold the gas open on it. But, nothing beats just having plenty of skills and some fire making tinder like Fiber Light Fire tinder and Tinder boost to really make a fire! Or, you can just let mother nature burn up the countryside! Almost a hundred thousand acres burning around us right now in Montana!! Been watching retardant planes taking off and landing! Supposed to be even more extreme tomorrow!! Then, for some parts of Montana we are expecting 2-8 inches of snow on Monday night into Tuesday! LOL
Sorry zippo lighters are bad, I had many and the fluid never lasted long, the bic is better just keep it close to you and it will be warm
Hate relying on dried out zippo ligher.
And always put the wick halfway not at the top
Zippo .
Clipper for the win!
Zippo has a metal butane butane insert, it makes up for the old zippo weaknesses.
You freezer test, is unrealistic.
Warm up the lighter by keeping it on your body before you use it.
Unrealistic or not, it was a head to head comparison of one capability
You never did make another video about how long they lasted
Stay tuned. Coming soon.
All I can say is: Learn how to use your BiC, mate!!! There are so many mods that you can do to your BiC: wick it, add a gas lock which can also double as a lasting fire lock, wrap it with gorilla tape, waterproof it (although BiC recovers after 2 minutes of blowing and shaking), etc, etc. Learn to use your BiC, mate!
In terms of BiC not working in the cold - HaHa! You keep your lighter in your pocket (close to your body) - why would you keep it anywhere else? If your body is below 0 degrees Celsius, you've got bigger problems than your BiC not lighting up :) If it's very-very cold and your BiC is not lighting up, just hold it in your hands for couple of minutes (shaking it also helps) and Bob's your uncle!
BiC is designed to produce 3,000 sparks. With couple of meters of waxed wick attached to it,. you can make a single BiC lighter last for a decade. Even when the gas runs out, you still have your waxed wick (fluff it, add a very little bit of hand sanitiser gel) and you've got fire.
I've built quite an elaborate Fire Kit that has every imaginable way of starting fire - and it weighed well over 800g (2lb) in its compact state. Then I started downsizing - replacing unnecessary weight with knowledge and experience is an art form - it's the essence of fieldcraft! Now my whole fire kit consists of 2 modified BiC lighters, each weighing 27g (less than 1oz).
So what if all your clothes and you are soaking wet in sub-zero temperatures? Like I said, I ALWAYS have a Bic lighter in my pocket, but I understand they have limitations.
I have the uco trekker. and a self starting plumbers torch :)
Do they both work at 40 below? ;-)
A Zippo is like a beautiful woman if you don't take good care of it regularly, it won't be there for you when you need it.
And requires constant upkeep.
@@SurvivalOnPurpose And if she's a real good woman there's a TitanLight under the tree, a MatchCap XL, and some UCO Storm proof Titan matches under the tree😂
Bryan, I carry a Tesla Plasma Arc lighter in all my kits. They are safe, wind proof, no fuel to leak, no flame to burn you, and work in any weather condition. They charge by a usb cable from my solar charger in my kit. Only way to go my friend.
Maybe you could weigh the lighters to measure the evaporation.
I don't have a scale that sensitive.